Mens Grand Prix
World Grand Prix preview – The Price is right, but don’t discount Van Gerwen
The first of three consecutive darts major tournaments in as many months begins tonight in the form of the World Grand Prix.
The Mattioli Arena in Leicester will play host to the top 32-ranked players in the world who battle it out for the World Grand Prix crown. The Grand Prix is a unique major, as all players must first hit a double in all legs to begin scoring, it may be worth looking at those proficient at finding the outer ring when considering your bets.
Our list looks at the players taking to the oche this week.
Bet on the World Grand Prix 2024 here with William Hill
The top of the market
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are 10/3 and 4/1 respectively for the Grand Prix and it isn’t difficult to see why after a sparkling 2024 for both players.
Luke Humphries won last year’s tournament, his first major, before going on to complete a historic treble of major tournaments scooping the Grand Slam in November and World Championship in December.
Luke Littler competes for the first time in the tournament after a meteoric rise in the last 12 months where he has won nine PDC titles and it’s hard to see past both players if they are on song.
The bracket
With the unique ‘doubles in’ format and the strong field, it may be worth considering some experienced Grand Prix players at bigger prices despite the dominance of the two Lukes.
The bracket is very important when considering who to take in a tournament like this and it has thrown out some difficult games for several of the market principals. Littler faces Rob Cross, ranked fourth in the world with Humphries facing Stephen Bunting, another who has climbed the rankings in the last 12 months.
Two players who have previously won this tournament and have, on paper, an easier first round matchup are Michael van Gerwen (11/2) and Gerwyn Price (12/1).
MVG will face Daryl Gurney and he’s 2/5 to get the better of the Northern Irishman. If he can get on a roll, you can never discount him in major competition. A 48-time major winner, Van Gerwen is the most decorated player in the field and whilst his form hasn’t been that of his glory days, he rates a good chance in this field at the price.
Last year’s Grand Prix finalist Gerwyn Price looks a big price at 12/1. Another player who hasn’t quite had the year that he would’ve hoped for, or that his obvious talent deserves, Price thrives on the big stage.
Seven-times a Major champion, he is a man for the big occasion and if he can find the form which he’s been showing glimpses of then he could be very dangerous in this field. The return to a televised stage event will benefit him, as he often plays off the crowd which seems to enhance his play at times. He begins against Dutchman Danny Noppert and is 4/7 to progress to the last 16 this year.
The nature of the bracket ensures no easy route to the final as you are playing the world’s best players but an easier game in the first round could allow for the two selections to get some momentum and, on their best day, these two will be a very hard match for anyone.
